BBC Worldwide has inked a deal with Honyee Media in China to produce a Chinese version of the British broadcaster's automotive fact ent format Top Gear. (Pictured: the U.S. version of the show)

BBC Worldwide has inked a deal with Honyee Media in China to produce a Chinese version of the British broadcaster’s automotive fact ent format Top Gear.

The local version is due to start production in late July for a premiere in early November on Chinese satellite broadcaster Shanghai Dragon TV, and on OTT platform iqiyi.com.

Honyee Media is a conglomerate focused on high-end lifestyle in China. Owning multiple media platforms including magazines, a TV channel, and shopping sites, it will be responsible for the advertising investment, branding promotion, television and online copyright sales of the Chinese version of the series.

Top Gear China is expected to film in locations including Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Chongqing, Guizhou, Shanghai, Beijing and Wuxi.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be working together with one of the world’s great broadcasting powerhouses on a program of this quality and wide appeal,” said Richard Zhang, general manager of Honyee.

“The Top Gear brand has huge potential in China. The UK version is a huge hit around the world and we are confident that Top Gear China will be just as successful and popular here.”

In China, Top Gear UK is shown on Shanghai Dragon TV and iQiyi, while versions of Top Gear U.S. (pictured above) and Korea are shown on iQiyi.com. Top Gear magazine in China is published by One Media Group.

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Daniele Alcinii is a news editor at realscreen, the leading international publisher of non-fiction film and television industry news and content. He joined the RS team in 2015 with experience in journalism following a stint out west with Sun Media in Edmonton's Capital Region, and with communications work in Melbourne, Australia and Toronto. You can follow him on Twitter at @danielealcinii.